Campaign gifts Christmas shoppers to Irish indies

A campaign to get 1,000 Irish consumers to commit to spending at least €100 (£85.65) of their Christmas budget with independent shops looks set to meet its target.

The campaign was launched in November by Bob Johnston, who owns indie bookshop The Gutter Bookshop in Dublin. It has more than 600 followers on Twitter and 500 on Facebook.

Irish fashion independents including Project 51, Counter Propag&a, Belle Blu, Quack + Dirk and Style-Tonic have joined the campaign and could benefit from the potential €100,000 (£856,500) committed.

Garrett Pitcher, director and buyer at premium young fashion indie Indigo & Cloth in Dublin, which has signed up to the campaign, said: “More attention to independent businesses can only be a good thing.”

Johnston is asking consumers to “put aside a small amount and consciously aim it at a small business in the community”.

Shopper responses

“This is a great idea! Not only are you supporting local businesses, but you’ll also find brilliant gift ideas – and there’s less chance of someone having it already. I’m very proud of myself this year, I’ve bought quite a lot of Irish, and I’m not finished yet.”

Lisa Dee BA via Facebook

“Awesome idea. Independent shops usually have much better stock = much better presents.”

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